Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com Joystiq http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.joystiq.com/media/feedlogo.gif Joystiq http://www.joystiq.com en-us Copyright 2013 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Test Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends announced by Atari]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/test-drive-ferrari-racing-legends-announced-by-atari/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/test-drive-ferrari-racing-legends-announced-by-atari/http://www.joystiq.com/2012/02/04/test-drive-ferrari-racing-legends-announced-by-atari/#comments
Atari has announced a new version of Test Drive, but instead of the open-world, tropical setting of the two Unlimited iterations, this time the franchise is headed back to the race track. Test Drive Ferrari Racing Legends will focus on Ferrari's history across almost all of the racing disciplines, including Formula One, rally racing, and GT. There will be over 50 different Ferrari vehicles to drive, and each will show off full realistic interior and exterior models, as well as damage effects, which means Atari didn't skimp on the Ferrari licensing budget.

The game should be out for Xbox 360, PS3, and PC later on this spring. Too bad the company didn't stick with the more fantasy-based version of the Test Drive series, this time based exclusively on night drives in Africa; They could have named the game the Starry Atari Ferrari Safari. Don't like that joke? Sorry.

JoystiqTest Drive: Ferrari Racing Legends announced by Atari originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 04 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>africaannouncementatarimicrosoftpcplaystationps3safaritest-drive-ferraritest-drive-ferrari-challengexboxSat, 04 Feb 2012 19:30:00 EST<![CDATA[How Natsume picked up Afrika (bonus: trophies confirmed!)]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/how-natsume-picked-up-afrika-bonus-trophies-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/how-natsume-picked-up-afrika-bonus-trophies-confirmed/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/17/how-natsume-picked-up-afrika-bonus-trophies-confirmed/#commentsWhen Sony first revealed Afrika, it was a marquee first-party PS3 title used to show off the power of the system. Three years later, it's finally being released in North America, by tiny third-party publisher Natsume, who is more familiar with Harvest Moon and handheld games than anything shown off at a press conference. How did this happen?

According to Graham Markay, Vice President of Operations for Natsume, Finny the Fish was instrumental in the deal. No, really. Sony's Uo: Nanatsu no Mizu to Densetsu no Nushi was localized on the PS2 by Natsume as Finny the Fish & the Seven Waters.

"We have a relationship with Sony Japan," Markay explained. "You might remember Finny the Fish? That game was done by Sony Japan. So we licensed that game from them. We have a little bit of a history with their licensing department in Japan." Because of this relationship, Natsume was one of the companies contacted by Sony Japan about the game. Markay said that Afrika "really fits with the Natsume theme" because it's non-violent and nature-oriented. We might add that it fits with the Natsume theme so well that the company is simultaneously releasing a different safari photography game on the Wii.

In case you need an extra incentive to buy Afrika, Markay confirmed that "there is going to be a trophy system, which wasn't in the Asian release or Japanese release."

Gallery: Afrika

JoystiqHow Natsume picked up Afrika (bonus: trophies confirmed!) originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 17 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afrikanatsumesafaritrophiesWed, 17 Jun 2009 14:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Impressions: Afrika]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/impressions-afrika/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/impressions-afrika/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/06/10/impressions-afrika/#commentsPokémon Snap fans, beware! Afrika is the Pokémon game you know and love, just all grown up ... and, ya know, without all those Pocket Monsters. Instead, you're chasing around lions and tigers and, erm, zebras with fancy Sony brand cameras, trying your best to capture shots and not get trampled.

Oh, wait, that's right! There is no "trample." In fact, there's no interaction with the animals of any kind. You don't even get the satisfaction of oddly petting them like in Endless Ocean. With Afrika, you get an African safari simulator and little else. Which really makes it hard for us to even classify Afrika as a "game" as opposed to edutainment. Sure, there are assignments and "challenges," should you so choose to engage them, but there is little (if any) real progression through the experience.

Better cameras do unlock as you complete assignments and a whole mess of National Geographic footage/stills/information also serve to reward various complete objectives, but none of this makes the "game" any more game-ey. Those of you looking for an interactive African safari simulation, Afrika is for you. For those of you whose first interest is seeing if you can run down a rhino, look elsewhere -- this "game" ain't for you.

Gallery: Afrika

JoystiqImpressions: Afrika originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 10 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afrikae3-2009impressionsnational-geographicnatsumesafarisimulationWed, 10 Jun 2009 17:30:00 EST<![CDATA[Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition spotted in its natural habitat]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/animal-kingdom-wildlife-expedition-spotted-in-its-natural-habit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/animal-kingdom-wildlife-expedition-spotted-in-its-natural-habit/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/07/animal-kingdom-wildlife-expedition-spotted-in-its-natural-habit/#commentsLast year, we idly mused that Success Corp.'s Amazing Animals, a Wii safari game, looked kind of neat. Now, Natsume will give us a chance to experience the kind-of-neatness for ourselves! The company announced today that it has picked up North American publishing rights for the title.

Confirming our previous assumption about the gameplay, Natsume explains that Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition is a wildlife photography game in an African setting. "Each day, [players will] be tasked with completing specific assignments, such as taking pictures of particular animals, groups of animals, or animals engaged in certain actions. Players will see a variety of exotic wildlife on their expedition, including gazelles, gorillas, and elephants." So basically it's Sony's Afrika, but cuter and less likely to be used as a TV demo in electronics stores.

Natsume will be displaying Animal Kingdom at E3. We're so glad Natsume decided upon the Animal Kingdom name, by the way. We've never been happier with a regional name change. The title of the game in Europe is ... Safar'Wii.

Gallery: Animal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition (Wii)

JoystiqAnimal Kingdom: Wildlife Expedition spotted in its natural habitat originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 07 May 2009 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>amazing-animalsanimal-kingdom-wildlife-expeditionnatsumephotographysafarisuccess-corpThu, 07 May 2009 12:15:00 EST<![CDATA[Wild Earth: Elephant Washing Safari]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/wild-earth-elephant-washing-safari/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/wild-earth-elephant-washing-safari/http://www.joystiq.com/2008/02/03/wild-earth-elephant-washing-safari/#commentsFiled under:


As casual Pokémon Snap/rail shooter aficionados, we find ourselves a bit interested in Wild Earth: African Safari. Photographic shooting games are generally a good time, and we're keen to use the Wiimote's pointer for more shooting games. Now that we know that there's a minigame in which, as an elephant, you wash passing animals, the deal is sealed. We're actually not kidding, either -- we're quite impressed by the weirdly creative thinking required to get minigames into a safari game and have them make some sense. It's becoming increasingly difficult to come up with unusual minigames as the Wii's minigame density increases.

Something that more people are going to find neat is the multiplayer. Four people can go on safari together, with one directing the movement of the party (either by leading on foot or by driving the jeep or helicopter) and the other three snapping photos. We (try desperately hard at all times to) see shades of Lucky & Wild!

JoystiqWild Earth: Elephant Washing Safari originally appeared on Joystiq on Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>elephantelephant-washingmajescominigamessafariwild-earthSun, 03 Feb 2008 12:00:00 EST<![CDATA[Wild Earth: African Safari is like Regular Animal Snap]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/wild-earth-african-safari-is-like-regular-animal-snap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/wild-earth-african-safari-is-like-regular-animal-snap/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/12/13/wild-earth-african-safari-is-like-regular-animal-snap/#commentsFiled under:


Majesco has announced another Wii game: Wild Earth: African Safari. Based on (or more likely, ported from) a PC title called Safari Photo Africa: Wild Earth, the game takes you through the Serengeti National Park as you attempt to photograph over 30 African animals. The Wii version includes a multiplayer mode which designates one player as the driver and up to three others as photographers. Of course, being a Wii game, a hilarious minigame has been added as well, which allows you to play from the animals' perspective! It's all the fun of looking for some food with the added possibility of maybe being photographed.

After being reminded recently of our enjoyment of the (tiny) photography-game genre, we're maintaining tenuous faith that fun can be extracted from this title. The press release follows.

Continue reading Wild Earth: African Safari is like Regular Animal Snap

JoystiqWild Earth: African Safari is like Regular Animal Snap originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 13 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>majescophotographysafariwild-earthThu, 13 Dec 2007 12:45:00 EST<![CDATA[TGS07: Afrika still spelled wrong, beautiful as ever]]>http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/tgs07-afrika-still-spelled-wrong-beautiful-as-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/tgs07-afrika-still-spelled-wrong-beautiful-as-ever/http://www.joystiq.com/2007/09/20/tgs07-afrika-still-spelled-wrong-beautiful-as-ever/#commentsFiled under:

It's been awhile since we last heard anything about Sony's spelling-challenged safari romp, Afrika. When it was first unveiled, the consensus was, graphically, the title looked great, but no one really knew what the point of the game was.

This video will do nothing to better explain the game's gameplay, unless it involves taking voyeuristic photos of meercats and giraffes mating in their natural habitat or trying to run over endangered animals.

Who knows, though, we're sure there's a huge market for that kinda thing somewhere.

JoystiqTGS07: Afrika still spelled wrong, beautiful as ever originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 20 Sep 2007 05:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>afrikaphotossafaritrailersvideosThu, 20 Sep 2007 05:30:00 EST